Charente-Maritime (17) and Charente (16)

Saint Etienne, erected within the 12th century, today is the parish church of the village Chepniers. During the 13th century this was a commandry of the Military Order of Malta.

Notre Dame de l'Assomption in the village of Bussac-Forêt was built in the 12th century. The structure looks massive like a fortress, but has all architectural features, that are typical for the the Romanesque "style saintongeaise".

The massive towers of the Château de Jonzac date back to the 16th and 17th century. A castle has existed here already in early medieval times. The ownership of the castle ended with the French Revolution, so meanwhile the buildings host the "mairie", a regional museum, the subprefecture - and (seen to the very left) the local police station.

The church was erected end of the 12th century. It still has an impressive Romanesque facade from that time. It got enlarged and modified within the 15th/16th century. Severely damaged during the Wars of Religions (all vaults crashed down), the church got reconstructed during the 19th century. At that time the tower was added to the western side There must have been church here in early times already as recent excavation proved, that "Saint-Gervais-Saint-Protais" is built in the center of a merovingian graveyard. The old graves in front of the church are marked now with brown metalplates.

The Benedictian Abbey of Guîtres (20kms south) had founded priory next to a little river here. Within the 12th century the small, but wonderful Romanesque church was erected from the local white stones. The structure is surprisingly complete, only the small "belltower" in the west was added later. Today Saint-Martin is a parish church, surrounded by the graveyard.

The Benedictian Abbey of Guîtres (20kms south) had founded priory next to a little river here. Within the 12th century the small, but wonderful Romanesque church was erected from the local white stones. The structure is surprisingly complete, only the small "belltower" in the west was added later. Today Saint-Martin is a parish church, surrounded by the graveyard. The facade in the "style saintongue" is a bit weathered. Most of the corbels got lost, when the new roof got installed.

The Benedictian Abbey of Guîtres (20kms south) had founded priory next to a little river here. Within the 12th century the small, but wonderful Romanesque church was erected from the local white stones. The structure is surprisingly complete, only the small "belltower" in the west was added later. Today Saint-Martin is a parish church, surrounded by the graveyard. The facade in the "style saintongue" is a bit weathered. A handsome couple under the roof. He looks a bit stonily, while she clings to him. She may not have the elegance of Gislebertus´ Eve from Autun, but she is a good-looking lady, even after 800 years.

The Benedictian Abbey of Guîtres (20kms south) had founded priory next to a little river here. Within the first half of the 12th century this small, but wonderful Romanesque church was erected from the local white stones. The structure is surprisingly complete, only the small "belltower" in the west was added later. Today Saint-Martin is a parish church, surrounded by the graveyard. The facade in the "style saintongue" is a bit weathered, just like the carvings especially around the capitals of the chevet. Here are (at least) three persons doing a kind of line-dance. While the person to the right wears a skirt, the guy in the center seems to be naked.

The Benedictian Abbey of Guîtres (20kms south) had founded priory next to a little river here. Within the first half of the 12th century this small, but wonderful Romanesque church was erected from the local white stones. The structure is surprisingly complete, only the small "belltower" in the west was added later. Today Saint-Martin is a parish church, surrounded by the graveyard. The facade in the "style saintongue" is a bit weathered, just like the carvings especially around the capitals of the chevet. Sheela na gigs are not that abundant in France as they may be in Britain. I am not sure, whether she is one. But she is - explicit naked. What may connect her to the nude dancer(s) and the lovers under the roof of this church. There is durprisingly much of this profane stuff on an old priory church.

A small, Romanesque church, erected in the 12th century, got too small during the time of the Renaissance. It had a wonderful carved facade - and got saved! A second nave was built beside it - and the new facade was constructed "around" the old one, so both styles now are under joined one gable. The tower to the left was added during the 19th century. The church got renovated in the 1990s.

A small, Romanesque church, erected in the 12th century, got too small during the time of the Renaissance. It had a wonderful carved facade - and got saved! A second nave was built beside it - and the new facade was constructed "around" the old one, so both styles now are under joined one gable. The church got renovated in the 1990s. Here is the Romanesque part of the facade, the portal of the old church, constructed in the typical "style saintonge" . Romanesque art was "rediscovered" during the 19th century. For centuries these medieval works did not belong to "art". So to save this facade within the 16th century is quite remarkable.

A small, Romanesque church, erected in the 12th century, got too small during the time of the Renaissance. It had a wonderful carved facade - and got saved! A second nave was built beside it - and the new facade was constructed "around" the old one, so both styles now are under joined one gable. The church got renovated in the 1990s. Following the "style saintonge", there is no tympanum, but lavishly carved archivolts over the doors, seen here. The large outer archivolt depicts six armed knights (archangels) spearing devils. In the middle archivolt are two humans on either side, bitten by creatures, further on are lions and eagles fighting, all entwined by vines. The inner archivolt has an "Agnus Dei" in the center flanked by two angels and two evangelists, holding the bible. Of course there are smaller "floral" archivolts here as well.

A small, Romanesque church, erected in the 12th century, got too small during the time of the Renaissance. It had a wonderful carved facade - and got saved! A second nave was built beside it - and the new facade was constructed "around" the old one, so both styles now are under joined one gable. The church got renovated in the 1990s. Following the "style saintonge", there is no tympanum, but lavishly carved archivolts over the doors, seen here. The large outer archivolt depicts six armed knights (archangels) spearing devils. Here is a more detailled shot of one of these knights. I rotated this photo as imho now the details are better visible

A small, Romanesque church, erected in the 12th century, got too small during the time of the Renaissance. It had a wonderful carved facade - and got saved! A second nave was built beside it - and the new facade was constructed "around" the old one, so both styles now are under joined one gable. The church got renovated in the 1990s. Following the "style saintonge", there is no tympanum, but lavishly carved archivolts over the doors and capitals on the pillars, flanking the three arches. Some damage can be seen in this low zone. This was a "Christ in Majesty" seated in a mandorla, supported by two angels by the sides. Maybe some revolutionists vandalized it with hammers.

A small, Romanesque church, erected in the 12th century, got too small during the time of the Renaissance. It had a wonderful carved facade - and got saved! A second nave was built beside it - and the new facade was constructed "around" the old one, so both styles now are under joined one gable. The church got renovated in the 1990s. Following the "style saintonge", there are three arches on the ground and second tier of five arches. Above these are eleven carved corbels (some of them seem new), supporting a small roof. One of these corbels has this old, weathered musician, playing a harp or psaltery.

A small, Romanesque church, erected in the 12th century, got too small during the time of the Renaissance. It had a wonderful carved facade - and got saved! A second nave was built beside it - and the new facade was constructed "around" the old one, so both styles now are under joined one gable. The church got renovated in the 1990s. Following the "style saintonge", there are three arches on the ground and second tier of five arches. Above these are eleven carved corbels (some of them seem new), supporting a small roof. One of these corbels has monster, devouring a soul.

A small, Romanesque church, erected in the 12th century, got too small during the time of the Renaissance. It had a wonderful carved facade - and got saved! A second nave was built beside it - and the new facade was constructed "around" the old one, so both styles now are under joined one gable. The church got renovated in the 1990s. Following the "style saintonge", there are three arches on the ground and second tier of five arches. Above these are eleven carved corbels (some of them seem new), supporting a small roof. One of these corbels has this touching scene. A husband returns home and is welcomed by his wife. He must have been away for a long time, as he had made an oath, not to cut the hair, before he would hold her in his arms.

A small, Romanesque church, erected in the 12th century, got too small during the time of the Renaissance. It had a wonderful carved facade - and got saved! A second nave was built beside it - and the new facade was constructed "around" the old one, so both styles now are under joined one gable. The church got renovated in the 1990s. Following the "style saintonge", there are three arches on the ground and second tier of five arches. Above these are eleven carved corbels (some of them seem new), supporting a small roof. Some of these corbels seem to be brandnew. They were probably added during the restoration in the 1990s. This mouth-puller is one. It may be pretty explicit, but similar corbels have been produced during the 12th century (eg nearby "Saint-Martin-d'Ary"). What is my proof is the garter, I am pretty sure, that these kind of stockings was still unknown in medieval times.